Picture this: lightning strikes
your dreamscape one unexpected evening, stirring you from your
slumber with the almighty power of a flawless idea — an idea that
will improve people’s lives and solve society’s problems in
previously unimagined ways. Bleary-eyed, you type out the concept
on your phone and fall back asleep, grinning at your
genius.

Morning arrives, and with it a
sudden, nagging sense of doubt. Though still confident in the
life-altering potential of your idea, the reality of the situation
is hitting home — how are you actually going to turn this idea into
a reality? What form will your product take in the physical world?
How will you convince users of its benefits? When can you
launch?

Enter Vanessa Larco. A Partner
at the Silicon Valley-based investment firm New Enterprise
Associates (NEA), Vanessa has a passion for helping founders bring
their products to life. Her years of experience in product
management — including overseeing web and mobile apps at Box, and
contributing to the teams on Xbox Kinect and Surface at Microsoft —
have left her with clear eyes on what it takes to transform a
concept into a real life, functioning product.

Vanessa joins us for a
conversation touching on what exactly the role of a Product Manager
consists of, and the questions entrepreneurs need to ask themselves
to make sure their products will strike the balance between
revenue, engagement, and virality.

Please enjoy our conversation
with Vanessa Larco.

About the Podcast

From IVY: The Social University, comes The IVY Podcast — life-changing advice from the most inspiring thought leaders shaping our world today. With exclusive conversations covering entrepreneurship, the arts, policy, social impact, and more, The IVY Podcast is your hub for lifelong education and inspiration. New episodes every week. For more information about the IVY community, and to attend live events near you, visit www.IVY.com.